The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary

(Paperback)

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Description

A 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

A 2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens

Macy's school officially classifies her as "disturbed," but Macy isn't interested in how others define her. She's got more pressing problems: her mom can't move off the couch, her dad's in prison, her brother's been kidnapped by Child Protective Services, and now her best friend isn't speaking to her. Writing in a dictionary format, Macy explains the world in her own terms--complete with gritty characters and outrageous endeavors. With an honesty that's both hilarious and fearsome, slowly Macy reveals why she acts out, why she can't tell her incarcerated father that her mom's cheating on him, and why her best friend needs protection . . . the kind of protection that involves Macy's machete.

Reviews

"[A] harrowing, heartbreaking tour de force, a story of will and determination against all odds."--starred, Foreword Reviews

-- (1/1/2018 12:00:00 AM)

"[A] one-of-a-kind, no-holds-barred teen memoir will blow your mind and break your heart."--David Bowles, author of Chupacabra Vengeanceand the Garza Twins series

-- (5/17/2017 12:00:00 AM)

"Macy tells her story through electric-voiced, slang-laden entries. . . [A] powerful debut."--The Horn Book Magazine

-- (1/29/2018 12:00:00 AM)

"Ramos is a voice to watch; her exceptional writing and compassionate realism will draw many readers . . ."--starred, Booklist

-- (10/17/2017 12:00:00 AM)

"Ramos makes effective use of vernacular to channel Macy's anger, anguish, and sharp-edged perspective in a disturbing but empathetic portrait of life as a child in poverty."--Publishers Weekly

-- (12/11/2017 12:00:00 AM)

"Ramos' relevant and thought-provoking debut is a powerful addition to any collection."--Kirkus Reviews

-- (10/30/2017 12:00:00 AM)

"Ramos's stunning, gritty debut is equal parts hilarity, heartbreak, and hope."--starred, VOYA

-- (3/26/2018 12:00:00 AM)

"This complex story of love and loss can lead to insightful discussions about the problematic label of 'disturbed.' . . . Purchase where Isabel Quintero's Gabi, a Girl in Pieces is popular."--School Library Journal

-- (11/21/2017 12:00:00 AM)

"Nonieqa Ramos's The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary comes at a relevant time and with a powerful and endearing cast. Macy's story is necessary and unique, and both she and NoNi present voice and narrative unlike anything we've seen before."--Amy Zhang, author of This is Where the World Ends

-- (9/20/2017 12:00:00 AM)

"These pages vibrate with Macy's fury, beat with her enormous heart, and take flight. I wanted to burn down the whole damn world and build a new one worthy of her. Instead, I started the book over to witness again the alchemy that turns brokenness into a thing of beauty. Unforgettable."--Ashley Hope Prez, author of Printz Honoree Out of Darkness and The Knife and the Butterfly

-- (10/1/2017 12:00:00 AM)

Author Bio

Raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, NoNieqa Ramos is an educator and literary activist. She wrote the young adult novel The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary and the picture book Hair Story. She believes Halloween is a lifestyle, not a holiday. If you're in Virginia, you might catch NoNieqa getting motorcycle lessons from her soulmate Michael or going indie bookstore hopping with her preciosos Jandi and Langston. Connect with her works on www.nonieqaramos.com or on the Latinx collective www.lasmusasbooks.com.